Results 81-100 of 1,773 for speaker:Frances Black

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I would like to speak to amendment No. 5. Is that okay?

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I am sorry; I will wait.

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: Amendment No. 5 seeks a report on the adequacy of social protection payments and options for benchmarking social protection payments to the minimum essential standard of living. This year, the MESL research centre had recommended a €27.50 increase to core adult social welfare rates but, instead, what we got in the budget was €12. In its post-budget analysis, the MESL research...

Seanad: Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2023: Committee and Remaining Stages (12 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I move amendment No. 5: In page 11, after line 34, to insert the following: “Report on adequacy of social protection payments and Minimum Essential Standard of Living (MESL) 21. The Minister shall, within six months of the passing of this Act, prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas and the Joint Committee on Social Protection a report on options for increasing and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank all of the witnesses for coming before the committee and for the amazing work they do. I am very aware of the work they do, which is really a vocation. Their dedication is brilliant. As the Cathaoirleach said, the committee has supported the families' call for consideration by the Irish Government on taking an interstate case. We were very happy that we were able to support it....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Thompson. That is very good to hear. We all know the role the US played in the Good Friday Agreement. The work being done by the witnesses in the US is vital. I want to come back to the issue of intergenerational trauma. The witnesses deal on a daily basis with the impact of what has happened in the North. We know it plays a large role in families with ongoing trauma. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I have run out of time. If somebody else wants to come in, I will come back in perhaps at the very end for a final question. I think somebody else wants to come in. Is it Ms Hackett?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I have one final question. I was actually not aware that the deadline was 18 January. That is very worrying. It is really important the Irish Government makes a decision as soon as possible on this issue. I want to speak about the Good Friday Agreement. The European Convention on Human Rights is the scaffolding of the Good Friday Agreement. How do the representatives feel the passage...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I have another query for Professor Rolston on Keir Starmer. Why does he think Mr. Starmer would not stick to his word? I would like to hear a little more about this when it comes to the legacy Bill. It is important for us. It means those of us here in Dublin have to put even greater pressure on the Government going forward. Will Professor Rolston say a little more about this?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank Professor Rolston.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Ó Muirigh for attending and giving evidence. I also thank him for all the phenomenal work he does on behalf of bereaved families. It is important that we hear from people like him who have been working at the coalface of this issue for such a long time. Before Relatives for Justice’s attendance here, I was not aware that there was a timeframe for the Irish...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: In Mr. Ó Muirigh’s submission, he mentions that he qualified in 2009. He had several years of practice before the introduction of the Stormont House Agreement. How did it change his work and what does his work look like now following the passage of the legacy Act?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Ó Muirigh for his work. If it was not for people like him, Relatives for Justice and other organisations, I shudder to think where the voice would be for those families. He is doing phenomenal work. I hope he can be heard today. As he knows, I am an Independent in Leinster House. I hope the Government can hear what he is calling for. It is vital going forward. I...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I just have one more question for Mr. Ó Muirigh. It is about the Good Friday Agreement. We know that the European Convention on Human Rights is the scaffolding for the Good Friday Agreement. How does he feel about the passage of the Legacy Bill, which is so obviously a violation of Article 2? How does he think that will impact the Good Friday Agreement? Can he say a bit about that?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Implementation of the Good Friday Agreement: United Kingdom Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023: Discussion (7 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank Mr. Ó Muirigh again for the work he is doing.

Seanad: Local Government Matters and City and County Councillors: Motion [Private Members] (6 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I welcome Councillor Dermot Lacey to the Chamber. It is always good to see a councillor in the room. I am very aware of how hard councillors work. I thank Senators Boyhan, Keogan, Craughwell and McDowell for using their group's Private Members' time to bring forward this really important and timely motion. It has my full support, and I am grateful for the opportunity provided by it and by...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I, too, want to speak about Palestine and the horrific resumption of bombing after the brief truce. It is absolutely heart-shattering. That is the only way I can describe it. Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the past few days. It was reported this morning that one child is being murdered every ten minutes in Gaza. The Israelis are now stepping up their bombing campaigns in...

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Dec 2023)

Frances Black: I thank the councillors involved for their bravery and commitment in reflecting the views of their constituents, and it is time for us here in Leinster House who are involved in national politics to follow their lead.

Seanad: An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (15 Nov 2023)

Frances Black: I note and commend the comments made by the Taoiseach that Israel's response is "approaching revenge" and the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Simon Harris's description of Israel's actions as a "war on children". Those comments show that they understand the extent of the violence unleashed on civilians in Gaza and the depth of the Irish...